An April like no other

April – as I am writing on March 29, we still have snow although little by little it is melting. We are all staying home for the most part, because of the global coronavirus pandemic. Therefore, there are no activities scheduled at the Fosston Community Library Art Center and the library is closed.

However, the library has several on-line resources available at larl.org.  With a growing collection of more than 20,000 titles of downloadable eBooks and eAudiobooks, there is plenty of reading material that can be accessed on your computer, your phone or your e-reader. And if you have some printed library books that are already checked out, don’t worry. Just return them when the library reopens and there will be no overdue fees.
You are required to have a library card to check out these eBooks. If you don’t, you can apply for one online (again at larl.org). You will be sent a library card number via e-mail within 24 hours. As always, library cards are free.
Also, on the library Website you can find links to a ton of online resources for kids. There are sites for early learners, for grades K-6, and for grades 7-12. Sites such as Tumblebook Library, ReadBrightly Storytimes, and Britannica School Elementary will help children keep learning from home.
If you are interested in genealogy research, with your library card you can have free access to AncestryLibrary and HeritageQuest. I just took a quick look at HeritageQuest and found the 1900 census page showing my grandfather, who at that time was single and living as a boarder in someone else’s home.
Magazine and newspaper articles from thousands of publications around the world can be accessed digitally. I looked at these two sites also. The amount of choices was a bit bewildering, but if one takes the times to look for something, you can probably find it.
For all you aspiring writers out there, this might be the time to sit down and write. After all, there is basically no place to go. MN Writes MN Reads is a resource for writers seeking free resources for publishing and sharing e-books and for readers interested in discovering books by local writers.
Take care, stay safe, practice social distancing and read a book (an eBook that is.)